He may have been linked to 2010 F1 newcomer USF1, but Scott Speed has spoken out to assure that he has no interest in returning to the top flight following his brusque and acrimonious dismissal by Scuderia Toro Rosso two years ago – adamant that 'my future is in America'.

North Carolina-based USF1 was very bold upon its launch that its intention was to promote home-grown talent, and as the only American driver to have competed this side of the Pond since Michael Andretti all the way back in 1993, Speed's name naturally entered the reckoning.

However, the Californian's one-and-a-half year tenure at the Red Bull 'junior' outfit ended abruptly following a souring of relations with team principal Franz Tost – who was reported to have aggressively pinned Speed up against the pit wall following the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring in mid-summer.

The 26-year-old would not sit in an STR cockpit again – and now happily ensconced in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series with Red Bull's continued backing, he insists that he has no desire to return to the paddock where he got his fingers so badly burned.

“I hardly even follow F1 anymore,” Speed told Dutch website formule.nl, whilst acknowledging that he is pleased to see Red Bull enjoying such a successful 2009 campaign at the highest level and his former team-mate Vitantonio Liuzzi back on the grand prix grid with Force India.

“My future is in America. I have an extremely good relationship with Red Bull, and it's never been any different. I am very happy with what the company has done for me, and I will remain always loyal to them.”

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Anyone who doesn't believe that America could produce top F1 drivers just doesn't understand American culture. American kids grow up with NASCAR, Indy Car, the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500. That's their inspiration, not F1. Most all the great drivers in any specific category have spent their lifetime in that sport. You have to send an American to Europe and have him grow up around European racing but the fact is that there just isn't enough Americans that want to do that. We like things rough and tumble in America and NASCAR is more attractive to us Yanks. Besides we have the Indy 500 the most recognized motor event in the world. HOWEVER, we WANT more F1 races in America!

If F1 drivers are so much more talented than any other series, why hasn't one managed to dominate NASCAR out of the gate? Scott and JPM are both very talented drivers, but it took JPM nearly 3 years to figure out stock cars, and Scott is still getting a handle on the sport. F1 drivers are very, very good at driving fast. What I think they've forgotten is how to actually race. When F1 was actual racing, I used to enjoy it. Not any more: I'd rather watch guys trade the lead back and forth, and actually race each other.